This thesis explores the journey of Tea cultivation in Lazistan, Turkey, and its role in forming the Turkish national identity. Lazistan, a subprovince of the Ottoman Empire, is located on the Black Sea coast next to the Georgian border of Turkey. The Region is formed around green hills and has a subtropical climate. In these fertile lands, where agriculture has always been a part of life, the Laz people produced for themselves to maintain their needs.

The story of Tea began in Ancient China (2727-2697 BCE); following the Silk Road, Tea arrived in Lazistan during the Ottoman period. After establishing the Turkish Republic in 1923, the government introduced Tea to Lazistan a year later as part of the economic development plan in 1924. Simultaneously, the region was named Rize, a nd the Artvin and Laz languages were prohibited.

Tea cultivation played a crucial role in transforming Turkey into a unified nation-state. Throughout the cultivation of the land, the leaf reshaped cultural and economic surroundings. The red drink became a national symbol and a crucial part of Turkish daily life. From the fields to the leaf, Tea carries memories and narratives of the lands, nations, and folks. This research uses ancient stories and folk songs to illustrate those memories and narratives to support the story. This thesis explores how state policies shape national identity through the lens of Tea cultivation in Turkey and Lazistan. In other words, it seeks to understand how a plant, through cultivation, shaped a nation. 

Author: Kıvanç Sert